In addition to medication with negative inotropic drugs, surgical myectomy and DDD pacemaker implantation are standard procedures in the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). In a preliminary series the results obtained with a recently described method, consisting of transcatheter myocardial reduction, are evaluated.Six patients (two women, four men; mean age 52.7 [44-68] years), who remained in moderate heart failure despite medical treatment, underwent the procedure. After atrial transseptal puncture (via a catheter introduced percutaneously into the femoral vein) the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient was measured at rest and after 5-minute balloon occlusion of the first septal branch of the left coronary artery. After demonstration of significant reduction of the gradient by the occlusion, one (n = 3) or two (n = 3) septal branches were occluded by the injection of 2-5 ml of 96% alcohol.The LVOT gradient was reduced from 57.8 +/- 22.4 (38-97) mm Hg to 11.3 +/- 8.6 (0-21) mm Hg and postextrasystolic from 131.0 +/- 40.7 (78-198) mm Hg to 44.0 +/- 35.6 (19-69) mm Hg. All patients had angina for 24 hours after the procedure. Maximal rise in creatine kinase activity was 982 +/- 589 (392-1729) U/l after 8.0 +/- 3.9 (4-15) hours. In three patients transitory complete atrioventricular block developed 10 min to 5 days later, requiring temporary pacemaker implantation. The further course was without complication in all patients and they were discharged after 7.5 +/- 1.8 (6-11) days.The described catheter method provides a nonsurgical means of reducing the amount of septal myocardium with subsequent reduction of the LVOT gradient in HOCM. Long-term observation in a larger group of patients and comparison with conventional forms of treatment are required to determined the method's ultimate place in the treatment of HOCM.

A 30-year-old woman with severe mitral stenosis was admitted to hospital in cardiogenic shock (tachycardia, hypotension, low cardiac output) requiring artificial ventilation. As the cardiovascular state failed to respond to drug treatment, percutaneous mitral valvoplasty (MVP) was performed as an emergency with the Inoue balloon catheter. This brought about immediate improvement in the clinical and haemodynamic condition. As later seen at open-heart surgery, the MVP had produced a tear in the anterior mitral leaflet with considerable regurgitation. Mitral valve replacement was performed as an elective procedure 4 weeks after the MVP, at a time when the patient was mobile. MVP with the Inoue catheter system can achieve a stable clinical and haemodynamic state when there is cardiogenic shock due to severe mitral stenosis and conservative measures have failed.

Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) by alcohol injection into septal branches (SB) of the left coronary artery has evolved as a promising therapeutic option for selected patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Originally, probatory balloon occlusion of the target vessel was considered to be predictive for definitive reduction of left ventricular outflow gradients (LVOTG). The need for additional information regarding the exact site and extension of the therapeutic septal infarction is demonstrated by a case report. In this patient, myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was performed prior to alcohol injection and showed that the septal area corresponding to LVOTG formation was supplied by a SB originating atypically from an intermediate branch. PTSMA guided by MCE led to complete LVOTG elimination without sustained rhythm disturbances and with a minimum CK rise.

CASE REPORT:A 26-year-old pregnant woman (18th week of pregnancy) was admitted to a hospital with right heart failure and pulmonary congestion. After establishing the diagnosis of mitral stenosis, a first stabilization could be achieved by medical therapy with digitalis, diuretics, and beta-blockers. Readmission was necessary in the 23rd week. After failure of medical treatment the patient was transferred to our center. We decided to perform an emergency mitral valvulotomy with the Inoue balloon. Taking care of maximal radiation protection for mother and fetus doubling of the mitral valve opening are (from 0.6 cm2 to 1.3 cm2) could be achieved. The pleural effusions and tricuspid regurgitation disappeared. The patient was symptom-free and could be delivered from a male infant on schedule.

Mitral valve stenosis is the most frequently occurring acquired heart failure. In pregnancy it can result in severe problems to both mother and unborn infant. There are important changes in haemodynamics during pregnancy burdening maternal circulation. Normally, there is an evident increase of blood volume and cardiac output. Mitral valve stenosis prevents the left ventricle from filling with blood; this leads on the one hand to pulmonary congestion and on the other hand to reduced cardiac output. Therapeutic options like medical treatment and especially valvulotomy with the Inoue-balloon are described in two cases presented here. We performed emergency valvulotomy in the 23 rd or 33 rd week of pregnancy respectively. While ensuring maximal radiation protection for mother and fetus, valvulotomy of the mitral valve was achieved. Technically the intervention was successful in both cases, but for one woman intrauterine death occurred; she developed a lethal septic shock as a result of her previous poor haemodynamic condition. The other woman could be delivered from a healthy male infant on schedule.

Mitral valve stenosis is the most frequently occurring acquired heart failure. In pregnancy it can result in severe problems to both mother and unborn infant. There are important changes in haemodynamics during pregnancy burdening maternal circulation. Normally, there is an evident increase of blood Volume and cardiac output. Mitral valve stenosis prevents the left ventricle from filling with blood; this leads on the one hand to pulmonary congestion and on the other hand to reduced cardiac output. Therapeutic options like medical treatment and especially valvulotomy with the Inoue-balloon are described in two cases presented here. We performed emergency valvulotomy in the 23(rd) or 33(rd) week of pregnancy respectively While ensuring maximal radiation protection for mother and fetus, valvulotomy of the mitral valve was achieved. Technically the intervention was successful in both cases, but for one woman intra-uterine death occurred; she developed a lethal septic shock as a result of her previous poor haemodynamic condition. The other woman could be delivered from a healthy male infant on schedule.

Hintergrund: Die chirurgische Myotomie-Myektomie und die DDD-Schrittmacherimplantation gelten als Therapieoptionen für medikamentös nicht hinreichend behandelbare Patienten (Pat.) mit hypertroph-obstruktiver Kardiomyopathie (HOCM). Als alternative nichtchirurgische Strategie wurde die perkutane transluminale septale Myokardablation (PTSMA) zur Reduktion der septalen Hypertrophie bzw. des Gradienten über dem linksventrikulären Ausflußtrakt (LVOTG) entwickelt. Wir berichten über Akutergebnisse und Hospitalverlauf der ersten 66 Patienten.

Background: In hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) therapy, surgical myectomy and DDD pacemaker implantation are considered to be established extensions to medical treatment. As an alternative procedure for reducing the left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG), percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) by alcohol-induced septal branch occlusion has been introduced. We report on the acute results and the short-term clinical course following 66 PTSMA interventions in symptomatic patients (pts.) with HOCM.Methods: In pts. who were symptomatic despite adequate drug therapy (31 women, 35 men; mean age 52.9 +/- 15.0 years, range: 16-86) 66 PTSMA interventions were performed (4 pts. with a re-intervention). Septal branches were occluded by injection of 3.5 +/- 1.8 (1.5-11.0) ml ethanol (96 %). In the first 30 pts. the target vessel was determined by probatory balloon occlusion (PBO) alone, in the following 36 by additional myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). In-hospital followup of LVOTG and clinical course were determined.Results: The invasively determined LVOTG could be reduced by > 50 % or eliminated in 54 interventions (82 %) with a mean reduction from 71.2 +/- 34.4 (4-174) to 18.0 +/- 21.5 (0-105) mm Hg at rest and from 145.7 +/- 42.3 (68-257) to 63.7 +/- 49.3 (0-185) mm Hg post extrasystole (p < 0.0001). All pts. experienced angina pectoris within the first 24 hours. The creatine kinase peak was 690 +/- 364 (201-1810) U/l after 11.0 +/- 5.4 (4-24) hours. 45 pts. (68 %) developed trifascicular block, requiring temporary, or in 9 cases (14 %) permanent, (DDD) pacemaker implantation. Two pts. (3 %) died 9 and 2 days after a successful intervention, due to uncontrollable ventricular fibrillation associated with betasympathomimetic and theophylline treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in one case, and fulminant pulmonary embolism in the other. The remaining pts. were discharged after 11.1 +/- 4.6 (5-24) days, following an uncomplicated hospital course. The introduction of MCE was associated with a higher percentage of short-term success (92 % vs. 70 %, p < 0.015).Conclusions: PTSMA in HOCM is a promising non-surgical technique for septal myocardial reduction with a consecutive reduction of the LVOTG. MCE has shown to be a useful addition to PBO for selection of the target vessel. Possible complications are trifascicular blocks requiring permanent pacemaker implantation and tachycardiac rhythm disturbances. Prospective, long-term observations of larger populations and a comparison with the established forms of therapy are necessary in order to determine the definitive significance of PTSMA.

Objectives. We report the acute results and midterm clinical course after percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) in symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM),Background. In the treatment of HOCM, surgical myectomy and DDD pacemaker therapy are considered the standard procedural extensions to drug therapy with negatively inotropic drugs, As an alternative nonsurgical procedure for reducing the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient, PTSMA by alcohol-induced septal branch occlusion was introduced, However, clinical follow up has not been sufficiently described,Methods. In 25 patients (13 women, 12 men; mean [+/-SD] age 54.7 +/- 15.0 years) who were symptomatic despite sufficient drug therapy, 1.4 +/- 0.6 septal branches were occluded with an injection of 4.1 +/- 2.6 mi of alcohol (96%) to ablate the hypertrophied interventricular septum, After 3-months, follow-up results of LVOT gradients and clinical course were determined,Results. The invasively determined LVOT gradients could be reduced in 22 patients (88%), with a mean reduction from 61.8 +/- 29.8 mm Hg (range 4 to 152) to 19.4 +/- 20.8 mm Hg (range 0 to 74) at rest (p < 0.0001) and from 141.4 +/- 45.3 mm Hg (range 76 to 240) to 61.1 +/- 40.1 mm Hg (range 0 to 135) after extrasystole, All patients had angina pectoris for 24 h, The maximal creatine kinase increase was 780 +/- 436 U/liter (range 305 to 1,810) after 11.1 +/- 6.0 h (range 4 to 24), Thirteen patients (52%) developed a trifascicular block for 5 min to 8 days requiring temporary (n = 8 [32%]) or permanent (DDD) pacemaker implantation (n = 5 [20%]), An 86-year old woman died 8 days after successful intervention of uncontrollable ventricular fibrillation in conjunction with beta-sympathomimetics in chronically obstructive pulmonary disease, The remaining patients were discharged after 11.3 +/- 5.4 days (range 5 to 24), after an uncomplicated hospital course. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was achieved in all 24 surviving patients after 3 months, No cardiac complications occurred, Twenty-one patients (88%) showed clinical improvement, with a New York Heart Association functional class of 1.4 +/- 1.1, A further reduction in LVOT gradient was shown in 14 patients (58%),Conclusions. PTSMA of HOCM is a promising nonsurgical technique for septal myocardial reduction, with a consecutive reduction in LVOT gradient, Possible complications are trifascicular blocks, requiring permanent pacemaker implantation, and tachycardiac rhythm disturbances, Clinical long-term observations of larger patient series and a comparison with conventional forms of therapy are necessary to determine the conclusive therapeutic significance. (C) 1998 by the American College of Cardiology.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction, primarily in young women. The etiology of dissections is still under discussion. Possible factors are inflammation, changes of flow dynamics, and preexisting intima lesions. We report on two young women, 49 and 30 years of age, who suffered and acute anterior wall infarction. Coronary angiography confirmed diagnosis of spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the LAD in the acute an subacute phase of acute myocardial infarction. The patients suffered no further cardiac events at long-term follow-up of up to 9 years.

The described catheter method provides a nonsurgical means of reducing the amount of septal myocardium with subsequent reduction of the LVOT gradient in HOCM. Long-term observation in a larger group of patients and comparison with conventional forms of treatment are required to determined the method's ultimate place in the treatment of HOCM.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction, primarily in young women. The etiology of dissections is still under discussion. Possible factors are inflammation, changes of flow dynamics, and preexisting intima lesions. We report on two young women, 49 and 30 years of age, who suffered and acute anterior wall infarction. Coronary angiography confirmed diagnosis of spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the LAD in the acute an subacute phase of acute myocardial infarction. The patients suffered no further cardiac events at longterm follow-up of up to 9 years.